Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-25
MR.. GEO. WIN. CURTIS.
THE POLITICAL OUTCAST TALKS AT A DIN
NER ABOUT POLITICS.
Civil Service Reform the Rock He Glings TO-Asre
Party Spirit Ignorant and Debasing-Ths
Clouds on the Political Horizon Of the
Great Paruss Of To-Day

Mr.. James called the assembly to order and
introduced the orator of the evening.
George William Curtis, who was TO speak
upon the Political Situation
Mr.. Curtis referred TO his presence at the
first meeting OF the club, and to the gen
eral principles upon which its existence
was based. He went on to say:
Here is a club, composed of gentlemen
of all parties, who entertain differing
views OF all public questions. know
very we'll the charm OF party association.
have myself stepped to the party drum
beat. am prouder of nothing than of my
connection with that party which, it seems
to me, has done more for human liberty
and for every popular interest than any
other party in the history OF the English
speaking race. Applause. Gut impor-
tant rs party is, there is one thing still
more important, and that is q manly,
reasonable American independence of
party.
George Washington, the purest of pa
triOts, warned us that mere party spirit
was an ignorant aud debasing impu'se Of
influence; that mere party spirit is fierce,
mischievous fire, while party principle is
steady, creative heat The one principle
upon which the club is formed is that of
CIvH. SERVICE REFORM,
because one OF the chief objects of that re-
form is the restoration Of party in Ie-
public to its legitimate functions.
4 Il. Of
this country, it was i'll the midst of tre-
mendous controversy The issues were
vital and Overpowering. The questions
appealed to the heart and the conscience OF
the people of this country. But the busi-
ness of parties now iS to carry the election.
The Office of party association to-day and
of party organs is that of the old lire lad
dies in New York and of the machine to
'whOOp her up Laughter. ] have
seen recently that if Mr.. Cleveland
should he nominated next year he is
already as good ~ elected. APP
plause ! have seen that il Mr.. Blaine
should be nominated next year he is vir
tually in the White House applausel, ],
and | have seen that if Governor Hill
should lie selected by his party he would
run like a cyclone llaughterl; and have
seen that if Mr.. Sherman should be nom
mated he would sweep the country lap
plause and, furthermore, | have seen
that il Mr. Blaine and Mr.. Cleveland
should he nominated they would both be
defeated. Laughter Now | want to
say that the situation IL something like
that of the husband whose wife asked
him when he came in to tell her what
kind of a night i. WAS He opened by
mistake the closet door and replied: The
night is exceedingly dark and smells very
strongly OF cheese. Laughter.
SHADOWS or GREAT NAMES.
"Now, the first thing that strikes All OBJ
server who is certainly not Democrat,
Applause !, and who is certainly disowned
by the Republicans Laughter, is that
this very sad condition. ! can only re-
mind you of that wise remark of Mr.. En-
crsUn: Even Hell has its extreme satls-
faction Laughter. The great parties
are now mainly the shadows of great
names. and represent no definite and dis
tinct policy upon any of the existing ques-
tiOns. ! think there are probably more
Republicans in favor of Civil Service Re-
form than Democrats.
SIS the Democratic party of Civil Ser
vice reform? The President certainly il
Democrat of unquestionable character.
Amid incalcuable difficulties he has been
honestly endcavOring tO carry out his con-
victiOns upon this subject. But he has
met enormous distractions and the most
enormous is the Democratic party itself.
Applause DO the Kentucky Democrats
represent the policy and principles OF the
Democratic marty? In the Presidents
own State, the representatives in the Leg
islature freshly returned from the people
with almost entire unanimity-l think
there are two or three exceptions-voted
Tor the repeal of the Civil Service Reform
law.
THE TEMPERANCE AND LABOR CLOUDS.
IL will speak, too, of the Southern ques
tiOn. There is no doubt whatever III my
mind that there are gross wrongs practised
upon the late freedmen in some parts of
the Southern States They are wrongs re-
pugnaut TO humanity and to the American
principle, but both parties agree that the
remedy does not lie in national legislation,
but that the remedy lies in the States and
in the United States Courts and therefore
the question naturally drops out OF Impractical
politics "a a great public question. The
Republican party was not organized to pro-
mote high protection, or 20 harmonic
labor and capital or to regulate the liquor
traffic, or TO reform the civil service. 1t
was organized wholly TO resist the curse OF
slavery. Applause. Slavery is abolished,
and all the issues that sprung from and
followed slavery and the war have been
settled. The Union is secure.
IL think told no secret when thought
the Republican prospect was a little cloud
ed by the Temperance question. But the
Republicans can say TO the temperance
people: If you leave us you will leave
your best friends. But there is cloud
on the Democratic standard, and that IL
the labor vote, which cast o., 900 for Mayor
in this city, virtually displaced the Demo
cratic party in Chicago and Tepudiated 1t
in Cincinnati The election OF 1888 will
appeal 10 the conservative interests Of this
country. The attitude Of the two great
parties is necessarily one Of compromise.
| There is now no great question like that
of slavery or the war which forces itself.
The result Of the election will depend
very much more upon the candidates than